File No. 811.203/50

The Secretary of State to the French Ambassador ( Jusserand)

Excellency: I have the honor to refer to your note of July 13, 1919, in which you state that your Government deems it expedient to maintain, even after the treaty of peace is ratified and until further notice, the Franco-American arrangement of January 3–14, 1918, relative to military penal jurisdiction.

I have the honor to inform you that such continuation appears desirable also to this Government, and to propose that this arrangement, after the conclusion of peace, continue to be recognized in full force and effect until 30 days after notice of its termination shall have been given by either Government.

Should this modification in regard to the termination of the aforesaid arrangement be acceptable to the Government of the French Republic, your formal notification in writing to that effect will be understood on the part of the Government of the United States as giving validity to the proposed modification, and I shall be glad to receive your assurance that it will be so understood also on the part of the Government of the French Republic.

Accept [etc.]

Robert Lansing